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S. Somanath | At the helm of India’s space research

The new chairman is taking over ISRO at a time when the Central government is pushing for sweeping reforms in the space sector

Photo used for representational purpose only.

Covaxin booster increases neutralising antibodies, study finds

Crucial link: Without vitamin D, muscles continued to make glycogen, but could not convert it to glucose, as Dr. Aneeshkumar (right) explains.

Muscles starve in the absence of vitamin D, study of mice finds

T.V. Venkateswaran The study examined the molecular nature of muscle dysfunction in mice, in the absence of vitamin D

New AI model helps discover genetic risk factors for motor neurone disease

PTI The 690 new genes identified by RefMap lead to a five-fold increase in discovered heritability, a measure that describes how much of the disease is due to a variation in genetic factors

Editor's Pick

Gharials are being introduced into this north Indian river. Which river?

Science quiz: Sci-five

A.S. Nazir Ahamed Shubashree Desikan Test your Science quotient with this quiz

Question Corner | What makes humans react quickly to negative smells?

Smell factor

The Eurasian common lizard (Zootoca vivipara).

ABSTRACT The progress of evolution

Shubashree Desikan Understanding a recent study done by researchers on the Eurasian common lizard which exhibits both egg-laying and live-bearing modes within the same species

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Workers busy at the biogas plant at Bowenpally market in Secunderabad.

Watch | From market waste to electricity

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New AI model helps discover genetic risk factors for motor neurone disease

‘China satellite in close encounter with Russian debris’

Science quiz: January 20, 2022

Omicron a ‘deviant’ from COVID-19 pandemic progression script: Virologist T. Jacob John

Explained | Will the pig-to-human heart operation lead to a new approach to organ transplantation?

Profiles | Science

S. Somanath | At the helm of India’s space research

The fascinating discovery of an optical pulsar

On January 15, 1969, theoretical astronomers John Cocke and Mike Disney made a stunning practical discovery by identifying an optical pulsar for the first time. The story of how they discovered it is an enthralling one, made even more incredible by the fact that their conversations during the key moments were actually tape recorded on the night of the discovery. A.S.Ganesh regales you with the story of how Cocke and Disney found an optical pulsar…

Covaxin booster increases neutralising antibodies, study finds

The control arm of the study had 93 participants and the intervention arm had 91 participants, but most of these people were under 55 years

When it itches, you scratch

The elderly are prone to chronic conditions that manifest as itches

Question Corner | How do locusts smell an odour?

Like Pavlov's dogs, locusts were trained to associate an odour with food

Muscles starve in the absence of vitamin D, study of mice finds

The study examined the molecular nature of muscle dysfunction in mice, in the absence of vitamin D

A pig heart transplant in Assam in 1997

It ended in the patient’s death and led to the arrest of two doctors

Science Quiz: On Space

Correct answers are highlighted in green. Click on the correct answer for further reading on the topic.

Eminent rocket scientist Somanath appointed ISRO Chairman

He played a major role in development of the PSLV and GSLV Mk-III

COVID-19 | Omicron quickly overtaking Delta globally in terms of circulation: WHO

Since December, six studies have provided evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron variant, COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released by the WHO said

In a first, U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient

Over the years, scientists have turned from primates to pigs, tinkering with their genes.

China’s Chang’e 5 lunar probe finds first on-site evidence of water on moon’s surface

It was the solar wind that contributed to the most humidity of lunar soil.

The last of the Surveyor series

Launched on January 7, 1968, the Surveyor 7 was a lunar unmanned lander that successfully landed on the lunar surface on January 10. The last of the original series of Surveyor moon landers of the 1960s. Surveyor 7 was the only spacecraft of the series that landed in the lunar highland region. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at Surveyor 7 – the only purely scientific mission in the series…

NCBS: Zebrafish study reveals how the brain makes its connections

How nerve-end connections known as synapses form is highlighted in this study of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum of knockout zebrafish

Can microbes produce oxygen in the dark?

Scientists say there would be no oxygen on Earth were it not for sunlight: the key component in photosynthesis. Now researchers from University of

Conflicting signals from drug regulator, COVID-19 task force

On a few occasions, the national COVID-19 task force has refused to include drugs and vaccines that have been granted an EUA by the regulator

Omicron epidemic: third wave or new pandemic?

Both Delta and Omicron might co-exist, needing more vaccines in 2022

‘Milder Omicron an evolutionary mistake,’ warns Cambridge scientist

Next variant to be more deadly: expert

Science quiz: On origin and anthropology

Test your Science quotient with this quiz

The first of the Luna missions

Launched on January 2, 1959, Luna 1 was the first human-made object to escape the grip of the Earth’s gravity. Even though it didn’t meet its primary objective of impact with the moon’s surface, it achieved a lunar flyby before going on to become an artificial planet around the sun. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at the Luna 1 mission, the first of a highly successful space programme…

IISc: Testing hypotheses to guide COVID-19 vaccine, booster protocols

Using a computer simulation, the study probes why lower prime doses or elongated prime–booster intervals increase vaccine efficacy

Crossing the border: viewing through elephants’ lens

Elephants do cross electric fences using their non-conducting tusks

Headlice to the rescue

Are there other sources of ancient DNA besides bone and teeth?Scientists, for the first time, recovered DNA from cement on hairs taken from mummified

Basis for precaution dose approval not clear

There has been just one study each for Covishield and Covaxin to understand vaccine effectiveness despite being granted EUA 12 months ago

Omicron has high immune escape potential: INSACOG

Initial estimates show severity of illness lower, the genomics consortium says.

The progress of evolution

Understanding a recent study done by researchers on the Eurasian common lizard which exhibits both egg-laying and live-bearing modes within the same species

Scientist E.O. Wilson, dubbed modern-day Darwin, dead

Edward. O. Wilson, the trailblazing U.S. scientist, professor and author whose study of insects and clarion call to protect Earth earned him the

Fighting climate change without developmental blind-spots

Deep thinking and concern for the future is what past generations have demonstrated in how they have constructed urban spaces

Watch | From market waste to electricity

A video on the new waste-to-power plant at the Bowenpally market

Japanese professor creates ‘tele-taste’ TV screen

A Japanese professor has developed a prototype lickable TV screen that can imitate food flavours, another step towards creating a multi-sensory

Marie and Pierre discover radium

On December 26, 1898, French engineer Henri Becquerel informed the French Academy of Sciences of the discovery of a new element. The element in question, radium, was discovered a few days earlier by the Curies, Marie and Pierre. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at the discovery of radium…

Question Corner | What makes humans react quickly to negative smells?

Releasing the booster shots: What are we waiting for?

There is evidence to suggest that immunity, when it wanes after the second dose, can be boosted with a third dose

Using music to better manage dementia

Brain scans indicated long-known music activates various brain areas

Study of distant magnetar reveals facets of the exotic star

The short-lived flare recorded by the ISS instruments spewed as much energy in a tenth of a second that our Sun will radiate in 100,000 years

NASA's revolutionary new space telescope launched

Aside from examining the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies in the universe, astronomers are eager to study super-massive black holes believed to occupy the centres of distant galaxies.

Omicron less likely to put you in hospital: U.K. studies

Findings have not yet been reviewed by other experts

Science quiz: Sci-five

Test your Science quotient with this quiz

U.K. study makes case for AstraZeneca booster shot

Levels of neutralising antibodies rose sharply after a third dose.

CSIR-CCMB working on improving diagnostic methods to check for Omicron variant

Vaccines do provide protection and the focus in our country should be on vaccinating the remaining 22% population with double dosage, says Director Vinay Kumar Nandicoori

Inescapable risks of mandatory iron fortification

Fortification will increase serum ferritin without changing haemoglobin level

Is testing, sequencing strategy used missing Omicron?

There would have been a surge in cases if the variant is already present in India as Omicron spreads two to three times faster than Delta

Science Quiz: On the Sun

Correct answers are highlighted in green. Click on the correct answer for further reading on the topic.

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India's Permanent Representative to the UN, T.S. Tirumurti speaking at the UNSC, in New York. File

38K | Recognise ‘Hinduphobia’ and violence against Buddhists, Sikhs too: Indian envoy to U.N.

The bank took over the possession of the store for non-payment of dues, under provisions of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act

20K | Indian Bank takes over Saravana Stores (Gold Palace) in T. Nagar for non-payment of dues

In 2021, the DoPT directed West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay to report to its office hours after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly skipped a review meeting on Cyclone Yaas with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File

18K | States weigh options on IAS cadre rule changes

17K | The gentleman spymaster who had India enthralled

A view of Supreme Court in New Delhi. File photo

16K | Supreme Court upholds validity of OBC quota in NEET admissions

12K | Pakistani woman sentenced to death for 'blasphemous' WhatsApp status

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the national launch ceremony of ‘Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav se Swarnim Bharat Ke Ore’, through video conferencing in New Delhi on January 20, 2022. Photo: PIB via PTI

12K | Focus on rights made India weak, says PM

BJP's Aparna Bisht Yadav seeking blessings from Samajwadi Party patriarch and her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav in Lucknow on Friday, January 21, 2022.

11K | After joining BJP, Mulayam’s youngest daughter-in-law Aparna seeks his blessings

10K | Assam duo’s anti-COVID-19 herbal drink found 98% effective by lab